The Very Rev. Fredrick A. Robinson
A Sunday school teacher said to her class, “We’ve been learning about how powerful kings and queens were in Bible times. But there is a higher power. Can anyone tell me what that is?” One child blurted out, “Aces!” I’ll bet the teacher didn’t expect that answer!
Today, with the Feast of Christ the King, we have come to the end of the Christian year. Once again over the past year, we have celebrated the birth of Jesus, witnessed the visit of the Magi to the Christ child; we have recalled his baptism in the River Jordan, his temptations in the wilderness, his calling of the disciples; we have heard his teachings, and remembered his miracles; we have walked with him the way of the cross, seen him crucified, witnessed his death, and proclaimed his resurrection. We have celebrated his ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit. We have put all of this in the context of the Holy Trinity and celebrated 2000 years of the witness of the saints. Now, today, we proclaim that this same Jesus Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Interestingly, the Gospel the Church has chosen for this day takes us right back to before the crucifixion, to Jesus’ trial before Pilate. We can’t hear this Gospel without thinking about what is to come for our Lord. It suggests to us that Christ as King is inseparably linked to his sacrifice for us on the cross. There is great irony in this, for kings are not associated with suffering and sacrifice, but with ease and self-indulgence. Jesus indeed says to Pilate that his kingdom is not of this world. Jesus is a king like no other. He is a king who serves, a king who was willing even to lay down his life as a sacrifice for our sin. And he is a king who, while being over us, walks with us in our trials and temptations, in our joys and sorrows, in our victories and in our defeats.
The theologian Henri Nouwen tells a story of his personal spiritual journey. Years ago, returning to the Netherlands for a visit with his parents, he found that a large circus had come to town. Lured by the wonderful pageantry and showmanship, he joined many others who flocked to the big tent. As he enjoyed the three ring spectacle, he found himself captivated by the aerial show high above. The grace, rhythm, courage, and strength of the men and women on the flying trapeze brought him back to the tent for several days. He was so intrigued with their teamwork that he asked to visit with them during a practice session. That time together prompted the aerialists to ask Henri if he would like to tour with them for a time. Henri agreed to spend the next week with them, watching them, listening to them, and learning from them. The aerialists were very accommodating in spending much time with Henri.
When the week ended, Henri sat down with the featured aerialist – the one who did the most spectacular twists and turns while flying through the air. The star performer wanted Henri to know that the most important member of the group was not himself, nor was it the others who joined with him in flying to and fro. The most important member of the group was the catcher. Performance after performance, practice after practice, he quietly swings back and forth, his knees gripping the trapeze bar, his head and hands hanging down. And with perfect timing, and with incredible strength, he catches all the performers as they sail through the air. The aerialists know that he will be there for them. They have absolute trust in his ability to adjust, to reach out, to make their leaps and turns and twists end in the arms of safety. He is always there for them, and he never fails to provide for them.
What a marvelous metaphor the catcher is for our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. He is always there for us, ready to receive us when we venture out in faith, adjusting as we make errors in judgment, receiving our gifts as we offer them trusting wholly in him.
The earthly king, Pilate, with a hardened cynicism, asked Jesus, “What is truth?” We respond in faith, “We know and trust in the One who is the truth, Jesus our King and our God, the One who is not only over us, but also with us and for us.”
As we think and pray about the gifts that we will invest in our faith in 2016 on this pledge Sunday, let us make our investment in thanksgiving for our great king and God who is worthy of our complete and utter trust.
Sermon preached by The Very Rev. Fredrick A. Robinson
Church of the Redeemer
Sarasota, Florida
Feast of Christ the King
22 November 2015